The Night Market of Ratatouille
The market outside the Imperial Palace was bustling as usual that evening. I weaved between stalls, carefully selecting the ingredients for the dish I planned to prepare tonight—ratatouille. Eggplants with plump, ripe flesh. Bell peppers with vibrant colors. Well-ripened tomatoes and onions with rich fragrance. ...Yes. Ratatouille suited my current mood perfectly. No expensive ingredients required. Just a simple pot of vegetables slowly simmered. Nothing flashy, but the moment I took a bite, my heart felt wonderfully soothed... It was the dish I often cooked after a tiring day back in my previous life. As I chose the vegetables, however, I kept glancing around constantly. ...Caution was key. Just remember what happened last time. Whenever I came to the market, that mad princess never failed to appear out of nowhere. It was as if someone was feeding her information about every move of mine. ' ...Is it possible she's here again?' I pretended to feel the eggplants, while secretly scanning the surroundings with a sideways glance. ...That was when it happened. From quite a distance, past the crowd, a familiar head of black hair caught my eye for a split second. ' ...!' ...That was—without a doubt—Victoria. Though she was hiding her face with a plain coat, there was no mistaking her haughty bearing. She was wandering through the crowd, looking for something. ...As expected, she had appeared again. I quickly hid behind the stall. ...Good. If I did this now, I still hadn't been spotted. I could slip into the crowd and, unnoticed by that princess, quietly slip away. ...This was a chance handed to me by the heavens. For once, I had spotted her first, when I was usually the one being ambushed. ' ...Perfect. Now. I'll escape──' Just as I was about to turn around. ...Suddenly, a scene flashed through my mind. That bowl I had cooked for her once. The way she had praised it with exaggerated enthusiasm, her eyes sparkling like those of a child. The proud mask forgotten, she had smiled brightly, simply saying how delicious it was... That, the image. The worst part... had popped up right now in my head. ' ...Tsk.' I stopped the foot that was about to step away. ...This was strange. Surely, that princess was... a terrifying woman who might one day cut off my head. But for some reason, recalling her smiling face made my feet unable to move. ...Ah, whatever. Fine. Since it had come to this, I changed my mind. ...I had always been the one getting ambushed. Every time I came to the market, I suffered a surprise attack from the princess, got beaten, and mocked. But today, hadn't I been the one to spot her first? ...Then. This time for sure. 'I'll ambush her first...' ...No. Calling it an ambush felt too harsh. No, just a little. To startle her. The proud princess who always acted so high and mighty might let out a 'kyaa' and her eyes could bulge wide open. ...Just thinking about it made me feel oddly satisfied. ' ...Heh. Let's see.' I lowered my stance. Then, slowly weaving through the stall and crowd, I began circling around to approach her from behind. ...One step. Another step. She was still focused on looking for me, completely unaware that someone was sneaking up from behind. ...Good. Just a little more. Finally, when I was right behind her, I reached out to lightly tap her shoulder── my hand extended. However, at that exact moment, while she was searching, she slightly turned her head to the side. Because of that, I ended up face-to-face with her side profile. ...Ah. Her cheeks were flushed red. Her eyes, slightly teary as if desperately searching for something. And her expression seemed a bit excited. That look was oddly so adorable... ...Thud. I felt my heart drop heavily. ...What the hell. This was... My outstretched hand froze in mid-air. The spirit to startle her had vanished. I couldn't look away from that side profile. ...No. Pull yourself together, Kyle. This is just... suddenly facing her up close and being startled for a moment. Yeah, that's all. ...But why. My heart was pounding so hard. Right at the moment I had my hand stretched out and was frozen in place, not knowing what to do. "...Mother?" ...Finally, as if sensing my presence, she snapped her head toward me. And in the instant our eyes met. "...Husband!" ...Her face blossomed! It lit up brightly, like a flower blooming. "Husband! How? Here! Did you come to pick me up?" ...No, that's not it. "...W-wait. This is──" "Ahaha. As I thought, you were also looking for me!" Victoria rushed over like a country wife and clung to my arm with a slap. I found myself at a loss for words. ...It was a complete failure. Instead of startling her, my heart had plummeted first. Before I could recover, she was clinging to me. ...I had been the one to strike first. Why did the outcome always end up like this? ...So. The match today was, no matter what anyone said, a complete loss for Kyle Lowenheim. ...In total, our record stood at one win and one loss. But I still didn't know what I had won or lost. = = = = = ...She had found him. Victoria's eyes, which had been wandering through the crowd, finally captured the man she had been searching for. ...But for some reason, that man was standing with his body lowered and posture tense right behind her, looking flustered. ...Heh. Victoria immediately saw through it. ...This man had attempted a clumsy prank but ended up frozen. The visible panic in his eyes was oddly cuter. ...Good. Then I should strike first. "...Husband!" Victoria rushed over with exaggerated enthusiasm, as if she were a newlywed bride, and clung to his arm with a slap. "Husband! How? Here! Did you come to pick me up?" "...W-wait. This is──" "Ahaha, as I thought. You were also looking for me!" ...Then, the man's face twisted into an unpleasant expression. ...Heh. Yes, that's the exact expression. The frown of someone who was ambushed instead of ambushing. It was so satisfying. With this, it felt like she was settling some old score. Victoria's shoulders perked up. ...However. "...Oh, my. I didn't expect you to look for me so desperately." ...Huh? Kyle didn't run away. Instead, he subtly adjusted his grip on her arm. "...You are late, my dear. I must have waited a long time. I apologize." ...Dear, myself? "...What are you saying, dear." "Why, dear? We can't even have sweet words between husband and wife?" ...Victoria's face instantly flushed bright red. ...Dear, myself? Dear, myself! Surely I had struck first, but before I knew it, her cunning had caught me. ...Thud, thud, thud. My heart began racing uncontrollably. The word 'dear' kept echoing in my ears. ' ...No. I can't let this happen.' Victoria hurriedly turned her head, trying to hide her flushed face. Then, forcing herself to maintain her majestic appearance as a princess. "...Hmph. Hmph. W-well." Victoria barely controlled her pounding heart with a fake cough. "...Yes. What are you making today? Those vegetables in your hand." ...Yes, change the subject. Before this unsettled heart is exposed. "Ah, these?" Kyle held up the vegetables in his basket. "Today, I'm planning to make ratatouille." "...Rat, rat... what?" It was a name I had never heard before. Victoria blinked in surprise. "Ratatouille. It's a vegetable dish from my homeland." Kyle continued explaining with an excited look on his face. "As you can see, it's nothing special. Eggplant, bell pepper, tomato, paprika. Just common vegetables. But after slicing them nicely and simmering in olive oil, then mixing with the thick tomato sauce and boiling together──" He looked as if he could see the dish right in front of him, his expression full of joy. "It looks plain, but once you take a bite, the deep flavor of the combined vegetables makes your heart feel wonderfully soothed. That's the kind of dish." ...Victoria quietly watched the scene. ...Whenever he talked about cooking, that man always smiled so brightly. More so than when presenting any luxurious dishes in the palace. Right now, with just a few common vegetables in his hands, he looked happier. ...That appearance warmed a corner of my heart. "...Then. Let's finish shopping. Since it's like this, you can help too, dear." "...Tch. Who said I'd help?" While replying so cutely, Victoria's steps were already right beside him, following closely. The two walked together through the market alley. ...With a straight face, he explained how to choose the best tomatoes, and I listened as if uninterested, occasionally arguing over which vegetable was firmer with some trivial comments. All these small moments flowed by sweetly, like a dream. Finally, after picking the last vegetable, while Kyle was rummaging in his pocket to pay. "...Done." Victoria paid the merchant ahead of him. "...Huh? I, no. Dear, why──" "...It's a repayment." Victoria lifted her head slightly, acting haughty. However, a faint smile had already appeared at the corner of her mouth. "...I said I would repay you, didn't I? So, it's only right that I pay today's shopping bill." "...I──" "Shh. It's a repayment... my dear." ...Victoria unknowingly murmured. ...Ah, what embarrassing words had I just said. My cheeks flushed hot again. ...However, strangely, I didn't dislike it. Although it had all started as an act to play with him. From some point onward, these moments felt incomparably and truly happy. Walking beside him, arguing over trivial things, or giving him a small repayment. All of it felt deeply satisfying. ' ...Mother.' Suddenly, Victoria realized one thing and gave a small laugh in her heart. Until recently, hadn't I been sharpening my blades against Celine... hugging the pillow in jealousy and venting my frustration? ...But now, all those worries and jealousy had vanished without a trace, like snow under spring sunlight. ...Just being beside this man. ' ...I'm really simple, aren't I.' Victoria couldn't help but let out a light chuckle. ...Yes. Whether it was Celine or anything else, it didn't matter now. Right now, at this moment, this man was beside me. That was enough. "...Dear? Why are you smiling to yourself again?" "...Tch. It's none of your business." Victoria replied cutely and secretly squeezed his arm tighter. ...Who won today's match, it didn't matter anymore. ...I just wanted this warm moment to last a little longer. Victoria could only wish for that.